Local Media Advisory: SAE Aero Design East Competition, April 16-18

DELAND, FL (April 14, 2004) - The University of Central Florida, in association with the Deland Golden Hawks Radio Control Club and North Florida SAE Section, will be hosting the SAE 2004 Aero Design East Competition. Thirty-five collegiate teams will be competing in the event, which is the operational portion of a hands-on educational process that has challenged teams to design and build an unmanned aerospace vehicle (UAV) that can take flight under its own power and is capable of carrying additional mass.

Local journalists and photographers are invited to attend this event. The actual flight testing, Saturday: 8am-4:30pm & Sunday: 8am-noon, will provide the best opportunity for photos and interviews with event participants and sponsors. For assistance on-site, please ask for Valerie Isles or Shanin Hart of the SAE Education Relations Team. Event particulars are as follows:

Media inquiries may be directed to Mark Burd, SAE Corporate PR, mburd@sae.org or 1-800-441-2919. This event is the first of 2 Aero Design Competitions to be held in 2004, as part of the SAE Collegiate Design Series. SAE 2004 Aero Design West is scheduled to be hosted by Lockheed Martin Corporation in Ft. Worth, Texas, June 18-20. For additional information regarding the SAE Collegiate Design Series and educational programs, please visit http://www.sae.org and click on the "students" tab.